Carton erecting apparatus



8 Sheets-Sheet 1 Filed March 9, 1967 O mm INVENTOR. ROBERT K. GELLATLY ATTORNEY Nov. 5, 1968 R. K. GELLATLY 7 CARTON ERECT I NG APPARATUS Filed March 9, 1967 8 Sheets-Sheet 2 l INVENTOR. ROBERT K. GELLATLY ATTORNEY Nov. 5, 1968 R. K. GELLATLY 3,408,907

CARTON ERECT ING APPARATUS Filed March a, 1967 8 Sheets-Sheet 5 k9 U mg m cm :8

m m g 2 I m E m Q) 1: W 13 KQN Q A I INVENTOR. ROBERT K. GELLATLY AT TORNE Y Nov. 5, 1968 R. K. GELLATLY 3,408,907

CARTON ERECT ING APPARATUS Filed March 9, 1967 8 Sheets-Sheet 4 AT TORNE Y Nov. 5, 1968 Filed March 9, 1961 FIlTi ll:I

R. K. GELLATLY 3,408,907

CARTON ERBCT I NG APPARATUS 8 Sheets-Sheet 5 m f'g fi 9 7 O W m L g g3 wt A 3 Ln 99 s O o0 1 56229 N Q q m IN'VENTOR.

ROBERT K. GELLATLY ATTORNEY NOV. 5, 1968 R AT Y 3,408,907

CARTON ERECTING APPARATUS Filed March 9, 1967 8 Sheets-Sheet 7 INVENTOR ROBERT K GELLATLY ATTORNEY Nov. 5, 1968 Filed March 9, 1967 F'II3 lq ZI'Z. 40 I40 I46 I36 I44 P I56 I34 45 FIE 1E 1A0 20. 14

F I I3 1H lil 2 2 40 BO 42. 134 45 TC Q 5E F I G E U :40 ADJ I use 134-- 42 130- TC 132 R. K. GELLATLY CARTON ERECTING APPARATUS 8 Sheets-Sheet 8 INVENTOR. ROBERT K. GELLATLY ATTORNEY United States Patent 3,408,907 CARTON ERECTING APPARATUS Robert K. Gellatly, Santa Clara, Calif., assignor to FMC Corporation, San Jose, Calif., a corporation of Delaware Filed Mar. 9, 1967, Ser. No. 621,810 17 Claims. (CI. 93-53) ABSTRACT OF THE DISCLOSURE A carton erecting mechanism for overbending and erecting cartons of different sizes from flat folded condition to square tubular condition by resisting movement of the rear carton wall at only one end of each carton after the carton is pulled out of the magazine to partially open said end causing the lower edge to become inclined, and then swinging the carton against a similarly inclined overbend plate to progressively open the carton from said one end to the other end. Thereafter the carton is overbent equal amounts throughout its entire length by being pulled over a horizontal evener strip prior to discharging the erected carton. An adjusting device is provided for easily and accurately adjusting the magazine to handle cartons of different sizes.

Cross reference to related applications The subject erecting mechanism is designed for use in a carton forming and filling machine of the type disclosed in the pending application of Vadas et al., Ser. No. 461,738, and in the pending application of Knight, Ser. No. 614,247 filed on Feb. 6, 1967, both applications being assigned to the assignee of the present invention.

Background of the invention This invention pertains to a carton erecting mechanism and more particularly relates to an improved mechanism for supporting fiat folded carton blanks, hereinafter referred to as cartons, and for erecting these cartons from a fiat folded condition to an open ended tubular condition.

Although each carton erecting mechanism disclosed in the above mentioned Vadas et a1. application works quite satisfactorily when properly set and adjusted with all four sizes of cartons handled at their designated rate of 60 cartons per minutes, and such setting is diflicult, it has been noted that when each erecting mechanism is operating at speeds of about 75 to 100 cartons per minute, that too often the carton blanks are missed or improperly erected thereby causing a carton jam which stops the operation of the machine until the jam has been cleared.

It has been discovered that at times the forward and rear walls of the foremost carton on the magazine tends to avoid opening and stick to each other when the foremost carton is being withdrawn from the magazine. Because the walls of these cartons are stuck together, these cartons are so stiff when moved downwardly against the overbend plate that the impact of the carton against the plate dislodges the carton from the sucion heads. The aforemenioned Knight application discloses one manner of solving this problem, i.e., by engaging both ends of the rear wall of each carton as the forward wall of the carton is gripped and withdrawn from the magazine thereby simultaneously partially opening both ends of the carton as it is pulled out of the magazine. The lower edge of the carton, which edge is parallel to the magazine and the overbend plate, is then moved downwardly against the overbend plate to simultaneously exert equal opening forces throughout the entire length of the car- 3,408,907 Patented Nov. 5, 1968 ton causing all four longitudinal edges of the carton to remain parallel during the opening and overbending operation.

Summary 0 the invention In accordance with the present invention a high speed carton erecting mechanism is provided which includes a magazine having improved means for easily adjusting and locking one Wall thereof in selected positions to handle cartons of different sizes. The mechanism includes a rapidly operated suction head which grips the forward wall of the foremost carton and withdraws the entire carton from the magazine. A stationary cylindrical abutment then engages one end only of the rear wall of the foremost carton, said one end preferably being the end of the carton which defines the bottom closure. In this way, said one end of the carton is partially opened shortly after it has been pulled from the magazine, the partial opening forces being transmitted through the carton walls from said one end to the other end thereby tending to gradually separate one wall from the other and to cause the lower edge of the carton to angle downwardly from the bottom closure to the top closure about 5 relative to the horizontal whereas the upper carton edge remains horizontal. As the carton continues to swing toward the discharge position, the lower inclined edge thereof engages the flat face of a similarly inclined overbend plate. The inclination of the overbend plate is such that the entire length of the lower edge of the carton engages the plate simultaneously and upon continued movement of the suction head gradually opens the carton from said one end to the other. The carton is then fully overbent and pulled free of the overbend plate over a leveling bar which has its upper edge disposed parallel to the floor of the magazine thereby assuring that both ends of the cartons will be overbent the same amount. The carton is then released by the suction head at the discharge station in an erected condition in the shape of an open ended tube of rectangular cross section before commencing another cycle of operation.

It is therefore one object of the present invention to provide a high speed carton erecting mechanism which effects the gradual opening of a carton from one end to the other.

Another object is to provide an improved device for easily adjusting the magazine to handle cartons of different sizes.

Brief description of the drawings FIGURE 1 is a side elevation of the carton erecting mechanism of the present invention.

FIGURE 1A is a perspective of the magazine looking into the discharge end thereof and illustrating the inclined overbend plate.

FIGURE 2 is a plan of a mechanism of FIGURE 1.

FIGURES 3 to 6 are operational views taken in section along lines 33 of FIGURE 2 illustrating the magazine adjusted to handle quart, pint, one-third quart, and one-half pint cartons, respectively.

FIGURE 7 is a section taken along lines 77 of FIG'" along lines11"11 of'FIGURE 2 illustrating the-suction head in the carton pickup position, certain parts being cut away to illustrate the overbend plate and the upper carton abutment surface of the magazine window.

FIGURE 12 is a view similar to FIGURE 11 but illustrates the suction head in a carton discharge position.

FIGURE 13 is a section taken substantially along lines 1313 of FIGURE 12 certain parts being cut away and others shown in section.

FIGURES 14 to 21 are operational views illustrating progressive stages in the carton erecting and overbending operation with FIGURES 14, 16, 18 and 20 being end views operationally corresponding to FIGURES 15. 17, 19 and 21, respectively, which are vertical sections, certain parts of FIGURES 16 and 18 being shown in section.

Description of the preferred embodiment The high speed carton erecting mechanism (FIGS. 1 and 2) of the present invention, in general, comprises an adjustable magazine 32 which is supported on a frame 34 and includes an adjustment mechanism 36 for adjusting one wall of the magazine relative to the other wall and a locking device 38 which may be selectively dialed into four positions corresponding to the four sizes of cartons so as to readily effect the locking of the magazine in a selected one of four positions. A discharge window 40 is positioned at the lower end of the magazine 32 for releasably retaining cartons C therein.

A suction head 42 is mounted for movement on the frame 34 from a pickup position P to a discharge position D. After gripping the forward wall 44 (FIG. 10) of the foremost carton C at the pickup position P, the suction head moves away from the Window 40 causing a cylindrical abutment pin 45 to engage the rear wall 46 of the carton at one end, preferably the end defining the bottom closure BC, after it has been withdrawn from the window 40 thereby spacing the forward wall 44 from a rear wall 46. Engagement of the rear wall 46 at only one end thereof causes said one end to partially open in a diamond shape, which diamond shape is wider than the diamond shape assumed by the other end of the carton with the result that the lower edge of the carton is inclined downwardly less than 5 from said one end to the other end of the carton.

Continued movement causes the inclined lower edge 48 of the carton to engage an overbend plate 50 which is similarly inclined downwardly from the bottom closure BC to the top closure TC of the carton C thereby causing substantially the full length of the lower edge 48 to v engage the overbend plate 50 thus fully opening the carton with the bottom closure end being phased ahead of the top closure end at all times during the opening operation. The carton is then overbent by riding over an evening bar 51 which is bolted to the inclined overbend plate 50 and has its upper edge horizontal. Thus, the carton is overbent equal amounts through the entire length of the carton before it is released by the suction head 42 in the discharge position D.

More specifically, the magazine 32 (FIGS. 1 to 10) is adjustable to handle four separate sizes of cartons C, the preferred sizes being quarts, pints, one-third quarts and one-half pints as indicated by cartons C1, C2, C3 and C4 in FIGURES 3 to 6, respectively. The magazine 32 comprises an inclined sub-frame 52 which is rigidly connected to the frame 34 near its lower end by a cross rod 54 and by a link (not shown) near its upper end. An elongated stationary carton guiding and supporting wall 56 (FIGS. 3 to 6) is rigidly secured to the sub-frame 52 by integrally formed brackets 58 and includes a support surface 59 which serves to slidably support the end of the carton C which defines the bottom closure BC. The inner corner of the stationary guide is relieved at 60 in order to prevent the lower corner of the bottom closure BC to be bent rearwardly as the cartons slide down the magazine.

The magazine 32 also includes an elongated adjustable wall 62 which is accurately positioned to slidably-accommodate the top closure TC, and like the stationary wall 56, includes the supporting surface 63 that is relieved at 64 to prevent rearward bending of the lower corner and end surfaces of the top closure TC as the cartons are moving downwardly in the magazine.

The adjustable wall 62 is slidably supported on an upper transversely extending slide rod 66 (FIGS. 1 and 2) and a lower slide rod 68 which lower rod is rotatable and constitutes a part of the locking device 38. The upper rod 66 (FIG. 2) is rigidly secured to the sub-frame 52 by a snap ring (not shown) which bears against the stationary wall 56. A nut 70 screwed on the other end of the rods 66 bears against the side wall of the sub-frame 52 and rigidly holds the rod 66 in fixed position.

A hub 72 (FIGS. 7 and 8) of the locking device 38 is rigidly secured to the adjustable wall 62 and is slidably received on the rotatable rod 68, which rod is held from lateral movement by a nut 74 screwed on one end and a dial 76 pinned on the other end thereof. A latch bar 77 is pivotally supported on a cap screw 80 which is secured to the adjustable wall 62 and is received in a slot 82 in the hub for acceptance within a selected one of four grooves 84, 86, 88 and 90 formed in the rod 68. The grooves 84, 86, 88 and 90 are spaced from each other longitudinally of the rod 68 so as to accurately maintain the adjustable wall 62 in position to support quart, pint, one-third quart and one-half pint cartons, re spectively, when the latch'bar 77 is locked in the associated grooves. A spring 91 is connected between a pin 92 and the outer end of the latch bar 77 and serves to lock the bar in the associated groove. It will be particularly noted that the four grooves are positioned on four separate arcuate quadrants of the rod so that the latch bar 77 will slide along the rod during adjustment and will engage only that locking groove which is uppermost during any angular setting of the rod 68.

As mentioned previously, a feature of the invention is to provide a locking device 38 which may merely be dialed from one locking position to another. The dial 76 of the device 38 includes an outer clover leaf grip 76a and an inner disc 76b which is stamped with the words, quart, pint, one-third quart and one-half pint as indicated in FIGURE 9. Locking means such as a ball detent 93 is inserted in the sub-frame 52 and engages indents in the disc 76b for releasably locking the rod 68 in preselected ones of its four quadrants with the carton size indicated opposite a mark M on the bracket 58 and with the slots 84, 86, 88 and 90, respectively, disposed uppermost. Thus, in order to release the locking device 38 from one carton size position and setting it in another, the rod 68 is merely dialed into the desired position thereby causing the latching bar 77 to be cammed out of the associated slot as indicated in phantom lines in FIGURE 8 thus permitting the adjustable wall 62 to be moved to the new carton size position at which time the latching bar 77 falls into that slot to prevent further movement of the adjustable wall.

In order to urge the cartons in the magazine 32 downwardly toward the discharge end thereof, a heavy pusher 94 (FIGS. 1 and 2) is slidably supported on a pair of parallel guide rods 96. The guide rods 96 are secured at their ends to carriages 98 and 100 which are slidably received on the transversely extending upper slide rod 66 and lower slide rod 68, respectively.

A handle 101 (FIG. 2) is connected to the pusher 94 to aid the operator in moving the pusher upwardly in the magazine 32, and a hook 102 that is pivoted to the subframe 52 by a cap screw 103 is latched to the handle 101 when a new batch of cartons are to be inserted in the magazine. With the pusher 94 held spaced from the discharge end of the magazine, an operator can more easily and more accurately place a supply of cartons in the magazine 32 since he does not have to manually hold the pusher away from the cartons.

'5 In order to adjust the wall 62 and to maintain the pusher-94 midway between the walls 62 and 56, the magl azine 32 is provided with a pair of double threaded transversely extending adjustment screws 110 and 110a (FIG.

2). The screw 110 (FIGS. 36) includes a small diameter portion 111 having a crank 112 secured to its free end,

. an intermediate diameter portion 113 having a screw 1 thread thereon, and a large diameter portion 114 having a screw thread thereon which thread is twice the pitch of the thread on the intermediate diameter portion. A

.sprocket 116 is set screwed to the small diameter portion 111 and cooperates with the hub of the crank 112 to prevent axial movement of the screw 110 relative to the sub-frame 52. The intermediate diameter portion 113 is screwed in a threaded block 118 that is bolted to the carriage 98. as indicated in FIGURE 3. The large diameter portion 114 extends through a hole in the adjustable wall 62 and is screwed into a threaded block 119 that is bolted to thewall 62.

The other adjustment screw 110a (FIGS. 1 and 2) is identical to the screw 110 except that a collar 120 is sub stituted for the crank 112. An endless belt 121 is trained around sprocket 116 and a sprocket 116a that is set screwed to the adjustment screw 111. Thus, adjustment of the wall 62 and the pusher 94 is effected by merely rotating the screw 110 and 110a in the proper direction by means of the crank 112 after first resetting the locking device 38 by dialing the desired locking position in which the wall 62 is to be moved. Because the pitch of the threads of the large diameter portions 114 of both screws 110 and 110a is twice the pitch of the threads on the intermediate diameter portions 113 of these screws, the pusher will always remain midway between the ends of the walls 56 and 62. The screws 110 and 110a are rotated until the latch bar 77 of the locking device 38 becomes seated in the particular groove 84, 86, 88 or 90 associated with a particular size of carton being handled in the magazine thereby rigidly locking the adjustable .wall 62 in position to support the cartons.

The discharge window 40 (FIGS. 1A and of the magazine 32 is bolted to the sub-frame 52. The window 40 comprises a generally U-shaped body 130 having a lower horizontal bar 132 which projects upwardly slightly above the level of the carton supporting surfaces 59 and 63 of the stationary wall 56 and movable wall 62, respectively, of the'magazine thereby releasably resisting move- I ment of the lower edge 48 of the foremost carton out of the magazine. A pair of arms 134 and 136 project upwardly from the body 130 and have pivot pins 138 journalled therein and projecting inwardly therefrom.

A U-shaped break-away device 140 includes upwardly projecting arms 142 and 144 which are set screwed at their upper ends to the pins 138 and have a carton arresting bar 146 integrally formed on their lower ends. The bar extends transversely between the arms 134 and 136 which are relieved adjacent their upper ends to provide abutment surfaces 148 and 150 which prevent counterclockwise pivotal movement thereof as indicated in FIG- URE 10. The bar 146 is positioned to engage the upper edge 152 of the foremost carton to releasably retain the carton in the magazine until pulled free therefrom by the suction head 42. The break-away device 140 is normally held in its active position shown in FIGURE 10 by a pair of spring loaded ball detents 154 of well-known design which are supported in the arms 134 and 136 and engage recesses in the break-away device 140. In the event a carton should not release from the suction head 42 at the discharge station D and be returned to the pickup position P, the carton merely engages the bar 146 overcoming the holding force of the ball detents 154 and permits the bar to swing clockwise (FIG. 10) thereby I avoiding breakage of the window 40 or of the suction head 42.

It has been found that at times cartons, especially the long quart size cartons, tend to bow outwardly of the magazine window 40 at their longitudinal central point thus making it difiicult to reliably open the cartons. To avoid this bowing, a tab 155 is bolted to the lower carriage 100 and projects upwardly approximately one-eighth inch above the upper edge of the window bar 132.

The carton opening abutment pin 45 is secured to a bracket 156 which is bolted to the arm 136 of the U- shaped window body 130. The free end of the pin 45 is positioned to engage a lip 158 (FIG. 10) on the rear wall 46 of the carton C, which lip projects outwardly beyond the front wall 44 of the carton. After the carton has been withdrawn from the magazine 32 by the suction head 42, the lip 158 engages the pin 45 and resists movement of the rear wall 46 of the carton at the bottom closure end thereof thereby partially opening the carton from said one end.

As best shown in FIGURES 10 and 1421, the overbend plate 50 has a flat surface 162 with a curved upper end 164 having spaced mounting ears 166 projecting downwardly therefrom. The ears are pivotally connected to a cylindrical mounting block 168 which is integrally formed on the upper end of a bracket 170 bolted to the sub-frame 52. The axis of the cylindrical block 168 lies in a plane that is parallel to the plane of the face of the discharge window 40. This axis is also inclined downwardly approximately 5 relative to a horizontal plane from the bottom closure end of the carton to the top closure end so that the lower edge 48 of the carton, after being partially opened, is inclined at substantially the same angle as the fiat surface 162 of the overbend plate 50. One of the ears 166 of the overbend plate 50 is provided with an arcuate adjustment slot 172 (FIG. 11) through which a cap screw 174 extends. The screw 174 is threaded into the bracket 170 and allows the overbend plate 50 to be pivoted about the axis of the cylindrical block 168 so as to angularly adjust the flat surface 162 of the plate 50 relative to the plane of the window 40.

Since the uppermost edge of the overbend plate is angled 5 relative to the horizontal, and since it is desirable to overbend both ends of the carton equal amounts, the evener bar 51 is bolted to the upper edge of the overbend plate and has an upper edge 176 which is horizontal. Thus, as the suction head 42 pulls the carton over the upper end of the overbend plate 50 and bar 51, the carton is equally overbent throughout its entire length.

The suction head 42 is provided for moving the carton from the pickup position P to the discharge positionD during which time the carton is erected and is overbent. As best shown in FIGURES ll, 12 and 13, the suction head 42 includes a body 182 of generally L-shaped construction, which body is pivotally mounted on a shaft 184. The shaft 184 is connected to one end of a bell crank 186 that is pivoted on a shaft 188 secured to a vertical portion 190 of the frame 34. The other end of the bell crank 186 is pivotally connected by a link 192 to a pin 194 mounted eccentrically on and projecting outwardly of the face of a cam disc 196 that is secured to a shaft 198 and is continuously driven by means fully disclosed in the previously mentioned Vadas et al. application thereby causing the bell crank 186 to oscillate about the shaft 188.

A bell crank 200 which is pivotally supported by a shaft 202 secured to the vertical portion 190 of the frame 34 for controlling pivotal movement of the suction head. A roller 204 is journalled on one end of the bell crank 200 and is slidably received in a cam track 206 formed on the suction head 42. The other end of the bell crank 200 is pivotally connected to a link 208 and the other end of the link 208 is pivotally connected to the bell crank 186. Thus, as the bell crank is pivoted from the position shown in FIGURE 11 to the position shown in FIGURE 12, the suction head is simultaneously pivoted in a clockwise direction about both shaft 184 and shaft 188.

As indicated in FIGURES l1 and 12, the suction head 42 has an overbend bar 212 which moves downwardly against the rear wall 48 of the carton to sharply overbend the carton about the longitudinal score lines 213 and 214 therein as illustrated in FIGURE 21.

As indicated in FIGURE 13, the suction head 42 includes three suction cups 216 which are connected by conduits 218 to a valve 220 (FIGS. 11 and 12). The valve 220 is connected to a source of vacuum thereby normally imparting a low pressure at the suction cups. When the suction head 42 moves into the discharge posi tion D, a bracket 222 carried by the head 42 engages and opens a valve plug 224 thereby venting the suction cups 216 to the atmosphere.

The details of the suction cups 216 and valve 220 are fully set forth in the aforementioned Knight application and forms no part of the present invention. Accordingly, if a more detailed description of the parts is desired, reference may be had to the Knight application.

In the operation of the carton erecting mechanism 30 of the present invention, the operator first determines what particular size of cartons are to be erected and then rotates the dial 76 (FIG. 9) of the locking device 38 until the desired carton size, for example quart, is positioned opposite the mark M. The operator then merely turns the crank 112 (FIG. 3) in the proper direction until the latch bar 77 enters the slot 84 (FIG. 7) thereby locking the wall 62 in position to handle quart size cartons.

The operator then employs the latch 102 (FIG. 1) to latch the pusher 94 at the upper end of the magazine permitting the magazine to be loaded with a batch of cartons without interference from the pusher 94. With the magazine 32 filled, the pusher 94 is unlatched and gravitates downwardly against the cartons to urge the cartons toward the window 40 which releasably retains the cartons in the magazine 32 until they are pulled through the window 40 one at a time by the suction head 42.

After the suction head 42 has gripped the carton and has moved it out of the window 40, the lip 158 (FIGS. and 14-21) of the lower edge 48 of the carton bottom closure BC engages the cylindrical abutment pin 45 and partially opens the carton progressively from the bottom closure end to the top closure end. If the carton walls tend to stick together, opening from one end to the other, as compared to simultaneously opening both ends, is more effective since it applied greater carton opening forces to that portion of the two walls nearest the bottom closure that tend to stick together until such time as the walls separate, while at the same time applying a smaller amount of resistance to movement of the carton which would tend to dislodge the carton from the suction head 42.

This gradual opening of the carton from its bottom closure end BC to its top closure end TC causes the lower edge of the carton to assume an inclination of about five degrees. Thus, continued movement of a carton causes the total length of the lower inclined edge 48 to engage the inclined flat surface 162 of the overbend plate and continue the opening action with the bottom closure BC leading the top closure TC in size of opening at any one instant during the opening operation until the carton is completely opened, and thereafter leading in the amount of overbend as indicated in FIGURES 20 and 21 until shortly before the carton is pulled free of the overbend plate 50. As the carton is pulled free of the overbend plate 50, the top closure TC and a major portion of the carton body is moved over the upper edge 176 of the evening bar 51, which edge is horizontal, and accordingly, overbends all portions of the carton equal amounts. The suction head 42 then carries the carton to and releases the carton in the discharge position D prior to returning to the pick-up position P for another carton.

From the foregoing description it is apparent that the high speed carton erecting mechanism of the present invention includes a very simple and easily operated de- 8, vice for adjusting the magazine to handle cartons of different sizes,'and is provided with a device for locking an adjustable wall of the magazine in desired position merely by dialing the particular carton size. The apparatus also includes means for opening the carton progressively from one end to the other and thereby reducing the forces acting on the carton which tend to dislodge it from the suction head. Overbending means are also provided for progressively overbendingthe carton from one end to the other and for finally dislodging the carton only after both ends have been overbent equal amounts.

Although the best mode contemplated for carrying out the present invention has been hereinshown and described, it will be apparent that modifications and variations may be made without departing from what is regarded to be the subject matter of the invention as set forth in the appended claims.

Having completed a detailed description of the inven tion so that those skilled in the art could practice the same, I claim:

1. A carton erecting apparatus comprising a magazine for supporting a supply of flat folded tubular car tons each having a front wall and a rear wall, a discharge window at one end of said magazine for releasably retaining cartons in said magazine, carton gripping means movable between a pickup position adjacent said magazine and a discharge position spaced from said Window whereby the foremost carton in the magazine is withdrawn from the window and is moved along a predetermined path to the discharge position, means for moving said carton grip ping means between said positions, and carton opening means disposed in the path of movement of the cartons for engaging and opening the cartons progressively from one end thereof to the other.

2. An apparatus according to claim 1 wherein said carton opening means includes an abutment pin which engages the rear wall of the foremost carton at said one end shortly after the foremost carton is withdrawn from the magazine.

3. An apparatus according to claim 1 wherein said carton opening means includes an overbend plate which is downwardly inclined from said one end to the other end of the foremost carton, said overbend plate lying in the path of movement of the carton.

4. An apparatus according to claim 2 wherein said abutment pin partially opens the carton so that the lower edge of the carton is inclined downwardly from said one end to said other end, and wherein said carton opening means also includes an overbend plate which is downwardly inclined from said one end to the other end of the carton at an angle substantially equal to the inclination of said lower edge of the carton whereby said overbend plate completely opens the carton and thereafter overbends the carton progressively from said one end to the other end.

5. An apparatus according to claim 3 wherein said inclined overbend plate includes an inclined discharge end, an evening bar secured to said discharge end and having a horizontal upper edge whereby movement of the foremost carton across said overbend plate and over said evener bar opens and then overbends the foremost carton progressively from said one end to the other end and upon movement over said evener bar completely overbends the carton equally at both ends thereof.

6. An apparatus according to claim 4 wherein said inclined overbend plate includes an inclined discharge end, and an evener bar secured to said discharge end and having a horizontal upper edge whereby movement over said evener bar completely overbends the carton equally through its entire length.

7. An apparatus according to claim 1 wherein said magazine includes an elongated adjustable wall for accommodating cartons of different sizes, a pair of spaced rods for slidably supporting said adjustable wall adjacent opposite ends thereof, a latch bar pivotally mounted on said adjustable wall, means for resiliently urging said bar against one of said rods, a plurality of slots in said one bar with each slot being limited to a different arcuate segment of said one rod, means for rotating said rod to a plurality of preselected arcuate positions whereby each position is such that only one of said arcuate segments and the slot therein is disposed in position to receive said latch bar, and means for adjusting said adjustable wall whereby said latch bar slides along the associated arcuate segment until it is received by said associated slot thereby locking the wall from further movement.

8. An apparatus according to claim 7 wherein said latch bar is unlatched from said slot by rotating said one rod to another one of said preselected arcuate positions.

9. An apparatus according to claim 6 wherein said magazine includes an elongated adjustable wall for accommodating cartons of different sizes, a pair of spaced rods for slidably supporting said adjustable wall adjacent opposite ends thereof, a latch bar pivotally mounted on said adjustable wall, means for resiliently urging said bar against one of said rods, a plurality of slots in said one bar with each slot being limited to a difierent arcuate segment of said one rod, means for rotating said rod to a plurality of preselected arcuate positions whereby each position is such that only one of said arcuate segments and the slot therein is disposed in position to receive said latch bar, and means for adjusting said adjustable wall whereby said latch bar slides along the associated arcuate segment until it is received by said associated slot thereby locking the wall from further movement.

10. An apparatus according to claim 1 wherein said magazine includes an elongated stationary wall, an elongated adjustable wall for accommodating cartons of different sizes, a pair of spaced rods for slidably supporting said adjustable walls adjacent opposite ends thereof, a longitudinally extending slide disposed between said walls and slidably supported by said rods, a carton pusher slidably received on said slide for urging the cartons toward one end of the magazine, and adjustment means for varying the distance between said walls extending transversely of and held from axial movement relative to said stationary wall, said adjustment means being connected to said adjustable wall and to said side and upon adjustment being arranged to maintain the slide midway between said walls.

11. An apparatus according to claim wherein said adjustment means includes a pair of spaced adjustment rods each having a first threaded portion of predetermined pitch threaded into said slide and a second threaded portion having twice said predetermined pitch threaded into said adjustable wall, drive means interconnecting said adjustment rods for equal movement in the same direction, and means connected to one of said adjustable rods for rotating the same in either direction.

12. An apparatus according to claim 6 wherein said magazine includes an elongated stationary wall, an elongated adjustable wall for accommodating cartons of different sizes, a pair of spaced rods for slidably supporting said adjustable wall adjacent opposite ends thereof, a 1ongitudinally extending slide disposed between said walls and slidably supported by said rods, a carton pusher slidably received on said slide for urging the cartons toward one end of the magazine, and adjustment means for varying the distance between said walls extending transversely of and held from axial movement relative to said stationary wall, said adjustment means including a pair of spaced adjustment rods each having a first threaded portion of predetermined pitch threaded into said Slide and a second threaded portion having twice said predetermined pitch threaded into said adjustable wall, drive means interconnecting said adjustment rods for equal movement in the same direction, and means connected to one of said adjustable rods for rotating the same in either direction thereby moving the adjustable wall relative to said stationary wall while maintaining said slide midway between said walls.

13. An apparatus according to claim 8 wherein said magazine includes an elongated stationary wall, an elongated adjustable wall for accommodating cartons of different sizes, a pair of spaced rods for slidably supporting said adjustable wall adjacent opposite ends thereof, a longitudinally extending side disposed between said walls and slidably supported by said rods, a carton pusher slidably received on said slide for urging the cartons toward one end of the magazine, and adjustment means for varying the distance between said walls extending transversely of and held from axial movement relative to said stationary wall, said adjustment means including a pair of spaced adjustment rods each having a first threaded portion of predetermined pitch threaded into said slide and a second threaded portion having twice said predetermined pitch threaded into said adjustable wall, drive means interconnecting said adjustment rods for equal movement in the same direction, and means connected to one of said adjustable rods for rotating the same in either direction thereby the adjustable wall relative to said stationary wall while maintaining said slide midway between said walls.

14. An apparatus according to claim 1 wherein said window includes spaced vertical arms, a transverse breakaway bar pivotally mounted on and extending between said arms and normally disposed in operative position to engage one edge of the foremost carton in the magazine to assist in releasably retaining said carton in said magazine, abutment means preventing movement of said bar in the direction of movement of the carton out of said magazine, and means for releasably retaining said breakaway bar in operative position, said retaining means adapted to release said break-away bar for pivotal movement awa from said operative position in the event said gripping means fails to release a carton at said discharge position and returns it to said window. 4

15. An apparatus according to claim 11 wherein said window includes a lower transverse bar which projects upwardly a distance sufiicient to engage the lower edge of the foremost carton in the magazine, and a tab carried by said slide immediately adjacent said bar and projecting slightly upwardly therefrom for engaging the central portion of the foremost carton and preventing outward bowing of the same.

16. In a carton erecting apparatus the combination of a magazine for supporting a supply of cartons, a discharge window at one end of the magazine for releasably retaining cartons in said magazine, said magazine including an elongated adjustable wall for accommodating cartons of different sizes, a pair of spaced rods for slidably supporting said adjustable wall adjacent opposite ends thereof, a latch bar pivotally mounted on said adjustable wall, means for resiliently urging said bar against one of said rods, a plurality of slots in said one bar with each slot being limited to a ditferent arcuate segment of said one rod, means for rotating said rod to a plurality of preselected arcuate positions whereby each position is such that only one of said arcuate segments and the slot therein is disposed in position to receive said latch bar, and means for adjusting said adjustable wall whereby said latch bar slides along the associated arcuate segment until it is received by said associated slot thereby locking the wall from further movement.

17. An apparatus according to claim 16 wherein said latch bar is unlatched from said slot by rotating said one rod to another one of said preselected arcuate positions.

BERNARD STICKNEY, Primary Examiner. 

